Resilient tire.



H. MOOLEARY.

RESILIENT TIRE.

APPLIOATION FILED 1111.11.29, 1912.

Patented July 15, 1913.

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H. MOGLEARY.

RESILIBNT TIRE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAB. 29, 1912.

1 067,668. Patented Ju1y15,191s. I ssHEBTs-snmz.

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BESILIENT TIRE. .112211101111011 FILED 111111.29, 1912.

1,067,668. Patented Ju1y15, 1913.

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HARRY MCGLEARY, QF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT QF CQLUMBIA.

RESILIENT TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rasanten fiammata Application :tiled March 29, 1912. Selial No. 687,0?2.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY MCCLEARY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Resilient Tires, of which thefollowing is a specification.

A serious disadvantage incidental to the use of the present forms ofpneumatic tires employed for motor and other vehicle Wheels "resides inthe fact that said tires are not only susceptible of being puncturedwith the usual results, but once the tire becomes fiat it is necessarythat the vehicle be driven with a wheel running on its rim, so to speak,until the punctured tire or tires are repaired or the inflatable tube ofthe same replaced.

A primary object of the present invention is the production of a tire ofthe pneumatic type in order to retain the resilient qualities Vof thisclass of tires but to so construct the tire that in the event ofdeflation ofv one or more cushions of which it is comprised, therewill-be auxiliary means to support the tread of the tire'andprevent therim of the wheel to which the tire is applied from damage, or injury tothe tire itself that is'likely to be caused by the deflation of theordinary tires now most commonly used.

It is further contemplated that the auxiliary means aforesaid shall besuliiciently resilient as to form a fair working substitute for the moreelastic cushion or cushions that may have been deflated, so far astemporary usage is concerned.

A further object of the present invention has been to provide a tirecomposed of a suitable tread, a cushion or cushions comprising inflatedtubes preferably for supv porting the tread and incasing means toprotect the inflated members, but .which may be very easily detached toafford access to the cushions forA purposes of repair, replacing, or thelike.

Supplementing' the foregoing objects, 1t has `been my intention in theconstruction of the tire of my invention toprovide a general assemblageof parts wherein not only are lthe inflated members readily .accessiblebut wherein certain members forming a composite tread are readilyremovable not only to permit of replacing the same butJ to permit ofquick access to other parts forming essential details of the tire construction.

ner of attachment of said Asides to the tread' parts and to' the rim,'andthe 'general a'r'l rangement. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken abouton the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.' Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly brokenaway of one 'of the members of the central composite cushion. Fig. 6 isan enlarged sectiom'parts being broken away, bringing out' lngre clearlythe'manner of connecting a Casin side with the tread. 'Fig 7 is' asectiona' view of a modified form of protecting strip adapted to beplaced intermediate a, tread socket member, and the hollow metalmeinbers forming a part of the' central cushion. Fig. 8 is a sectionalview, circumferentially of the tire, parts 'being broken away.' 9 is afragmentary View of the tre'a'd, shp'vfving two of the socket members,one havin its' tread block in place` and the other wit the latter partremoved.' Fig. l0 is a to plan view of a. locking frame,l one4 of whic1s associated with each tread' socket member. Fig. K l1 is a fragmentarysectional view showing a 'modified means for flexibly connecting the'socket inembers'of the tread.

Throughout the following det-ail description andon v the several figuresof the drawings, similar parts are referred to 'by like when completemay be said` to comprise` spaced inflatable .cushions 'between which is.arranged 'a'n auxiliary cushion, asuitable tread being located so as topractically sur'- round the 'aforesaid cushlons. This tread is supportedprimarily by 'the inflatable or main cushions, the Weight on the wheelbe'- ing sustained by the latter with customary resiliency, and saidweight being only r'eextent when one' of the iniatable' ried preferablyin metallic housings, the

I latter being linked together and forming segments extending around thewhole wheel,

The body of my tire comprises two main inflatable cushions 3 in spacedrelation and .of continuous or endless form so as to eX- tend entirelyaround the rim 2. Between the main air cushions 3 is located a centralauxiliary cushion which is of composite form and comprises a pluralityof resilient members 4. The members 4 may be inflated if desired, forwhich purposes a suitable air valve and nipple 5 is applied to eachmember 4. The members 4 may be of solid rubber or other resilientsubstance if desired, within the purview of the invention. A suitablenumber of the central cushion inembers 4 are provided to surround therim 2 and each member is partly incased by a metallic housing 6, thelatter being of long, narrow form and open at its lower end so that thecushicn member 4 may prot-rude downwardly from said lower end intosubstantially direct engagement with the rim 2, direct contact of theparts 4 and 2 being prevented by the provision of layers of canvas orsimilar material, shown -at 7. The upper end of each housing 6 is closedby a plate 8 detachably secured by suitable fasy tenings suoli as screws9, and the valve nipple 5 passes through an opening in the plate 8 ofthe adjacent housing. Between each housing 6 and the main cushions 3 areinterposed strips of leather or equivalent material shown at 10, andsaid strips extend practically entirely around the wheel in contact withthe cushions 3. Overlapping the upper portions of the cushions 3 andalso extending over each of the housings 6, is a protecting layer orelement 11, made of thermoid, composition, or the like.

The foregoing describes practically all of the essential parts of thebody of the tire with the exception of incasing means to be hereinaftermore fully set forth.

The tread of the tire, which is of compos ite form also, is made up of anumber ofv segments or sections corresponding with the equivalent partsof the central cushion, which equivalent parts may be said to be thecushion members 4, housings 6 and attached parts. The housings 6 arelinked together, so to speak, by the link members 12, shown most clearlyin Fig. 8 and the equivalent parts of the tread are linked together 'ina similar manner, as will be presentedlater on. As the segments orsections of the tread are all of identical form, one only will bedescribed. Each segment is composed of a base or socket member 13consisting of a rectangular body virtually forming a receptacle toreceive the lower end portion of a tread block 14. The block 14 ispreferably of rubber or of equivalent resilient substance, and isprovided with a center 15 in the form of a tapering plug fitting in acorresponding opening in the block 14 and prevented from displacement byreason of its tapered formation in a manner readily evident uponreference to the drawing. The lower end of the center 15 may berecessed, as shown at 15 so as to receive the upper end of the valvenipple 5. The sides and ends of the block 14 are curved, as shown at 14so as to receive therein the corresponding sides and ends of a lockingmember or frame 16. The frame 16 is of ree tangular form and is adaptedto tit into the upper end of the socket member 13. The frame 16furthermore is composed of sections hinged at one end, as shown at 16nand having the opposite ends overlapping, as.

shown at 16". When the frame 16 is received in the socket member 13, itwillbe evident that the sections of the frame are held from separatingmovement and in this manner, the frame is practically locked inengagement wit-h the block v14, the curved portions 14 of which receivethe sides and ends of the frame 16. In order to prevent displacement ofthe frame 16 from its corresponding socket member 13, an apertured lug17 is formed on each side of the frame and its between a pair of lugs 18provided on the adjacent side of the socket member 13, a detachablefastening bolt 19 passing through the matching lugs 17 and 18 to thussecure the partsr13 and 16 together. The various base or socket members13 are linked or otherwise flexibly connected together by means of links20 engaging eyes formed at the ends of said members 13 and it will beapparent that the connected members 13 really form a flexible andsectional base for the tread comprising the same.

In the bottom of each socket member 13 is formed a longitudinal opening"or slot normally closed by a plate 21 normally secured to the member 13by suitable fastenings shown at 21. The plate 21 is detachable in orderto have access to the cushion member 4 beneath the same, for whichpurpose, the plate 8 would, of course, have to be removed from thehousing 6. Between the' parts 8 and 21 is interposed a filler member 22that may be made of rubber or equivalent substance.

It will be apparent that should it be desired to replace the center 15of any one of the blocks 14, it would only be necessary to det-ach thelocking frame 16, remove the block 14 and accomplish the desired result.

lVhen the locking frame 1G is detached by removal of the bolts 19, it is.necessary to raise the parts 16 and 14 together until the frame 16 isdisengaged from the socket member 13, whereupon the size of the framemay be spread by pivotal movement to separate the block 14 from saidframe. By the removal of the block 14 and frame 16, those parts of thetire beneath become readily accessible for any purposes desired. It iscontemplated that the blocks 14 may be p rovided with chambers 23 topromote their resiliency but these chambers may be dispensed with, andunder certain conditions, according to the desire of the manufacturer,the centers may be done away with as well, within the contemplation ofthe invention. It may be noted here that the centers 15 will preferablybe made of cork or substance somewhat less resilient than the blocks 14,under which conditions, in the actual use of the tire, weight receivedon the tread members 14 has a tendency to cause these members to yieldto a somewhat greater exi tent than the centers 15, whereupon the latterwill project slightly from the surface of themembers 14 and thusconstitute antiskidding elements.

The base of thetread which is above described composed of the members 13linked together, is peculiarly connected to the rim 2 of the wheel bymeans of incasing members 24, one of which is located at each side ofthe tire. rlhe members 24 are formed with the basal flanges 24 tointerlock with the flanges ot the rim 2 in a manner similar to theordinary interlocking of similar parts in conventional types of tiresnow in use.'

Said incasing members 24 will preferably be made of layers of leather orsimilar material folded about enlargements of rubber or compositiomwhichenlargements form really the flanges 24 aforesaid. The various layers ofmaterial forming each ineasing member 24 may be riveted or otherwisesecured together, the rivets being designated 25 in the drawings. At itslower edge, each incasing member 24 has a plurality of hooks 26 engagingwith the adjacent flange of the rim 2, said hoo-ks being riveted orsecured to the member 24. At its upper edge, each member 24 has aplurality of hinged connecting plates 27 and fastening bolts or the like28 pass through the plates 27, the upper folded edges of the member 24and through the adjacent sides of all of the socket members 13 to firmlybut detachablv connect said parts together. The hinged plates 2T areapplied to the outer sides of each incasing member and to the innersides of each meer ber 24 near its upper edge, are the hook plates 29secured preferably bj.' the same rivets or fastenings 30 as are used tosecure the plates 27 to the part.l 24. The hook plates 29 are seenclearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings and they engage with short tie plates31 which are arranged between a strip of leather and the compositionmaterial designated 11. Bolts or similar fastenings 33 pass through thebottom portions of the socket members 13, through the parts 11 andthrough the plates 31. and through outstanding tianges 34 of thehousings 6, said various.parts being thus rigidly or Vfirmlyy securedtogether.

a From the foregoing, it will be apparent that each incasing member 24is firmly attachedat its upper edge to the sides of tht` socket members.13 which form the tread base and also to the bottoms of said treadmembers, the latter connection being established by the tie plates 31.An extremely serviceable connection is formed in the above manner and aconnection of equivalent substantiality afforded between the rim 2 andthe lower edge portions of each incasing member 24.

To have access to any portion of a main cushion 3, it is only necessaryto detach certain of the fastening bolts 28 from the hinge plates 27,whereupon the incasing member 24 can readily be pulled outward, and saidcushion will thus be exposed for lsuch operation as may be necessarythereon.

To remove the cushion entirely, the adjacent incasing member 24 should,of course, be detached from all of the segments of the tread, by theoperation above described and the disengagement of the several hookplatesv 29 from the tie plates 31.

r1`he strip 32 above referred to will be of suthcient length to passentirely around the wheelover the covering member 11 which.

las before described, is of composition material. The parts 11 and 32are cut out at intervals to provide openings through 'which the parts 8and 22 may be removed or inserted into their proper positions. The edgesof the strip 32 are npturned. as shown in Figs. 2 and (3 so as to besecured to the opposite sides of the socket: or base members 13 by thefastening bolts 28. lt will further-v more be noted, that the members13. are formed at their opposite sides with flanges 13l orerhanging theupper edges .of the incasing members 24 and the adjacent edges of thestrip 32. lf desired, as shown in Fig. 7. the strip 32 composed oflaminee may be substituted fer the strip 32 hereinbefore described. Theflanges 13 form a protecting means for the portions of the incasingmembers 24 adjacent thereto in a manner readily evident.

in order to prevent'dirt or foreign matter trom working in between themain intiated cushions 3 Ibeta1-'een the segments or sections ot thetread. it is contemplated .to provide filler members 36, one of which issituated between the adjacent ends of spaced .scckef @r base members 13and this tiller member l well;

may be made of rubber, or the like, being link connection 20 to passtherethrough and to thereby house said connection. 'l`o afl'ord a nareeompact arrangement, a bolt or fastening may pass longitudinally throughthe filler member 3G, and also through the portions of the members S24and 32 exposed between the socket members 13 to unite the severalmembers Q4, 32 and 36 in a firm sub stantial manner.

Against the outer side of each incasing member 24 at its outermost edge,are the clamp plates 37, one for each segment of the tread, and indirect engagement with which the hinged plates 27 are located. Theplates 37 merely afford broad pressure sur faces to engage the outeredges of the incasing members 24 in holding the same in proper position.

As seen in Fig. 11, the socket member 13 may be connected together by amodified means comprising lugsv 38 which are fastened by bolts 39 to thecontinuous leather or equivalent strip 32. By using the connection justdescribed, the link connections 2O may be dispensed with, or the twoeonnections could he used together, as desired.

In the event it should be desired to re-4 move any one of the cushionmembers 4 without displacing its corresponding housing (3, to facilitatethis operation, threaded sockets 40 will be embedded in the body of eachcushion member, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, saidmembers 40 being adapted to be engaged by suitable means forfacilitating removal of the part 4 bodily.

The formation of each incasing member Q4 constitutes a special featureof the invention and referring particularly to Figs. t and 3 of thedrawings, it will be noted that reinforcing cables, wires, or equivalentparts 41 are interposed between the layers of material comprising eachincasing member. Said cables or wires 41 are interlaced, so to speak,with certain rivets 25 located at the inner and outer edge portions ofeach incasing member and which rivets are preferably those which assistin securing the plates 26 and 27 to the member 24. Since the incasingmembers are made of leather and the inflation of the main cushions' 3subjects them to great strain under actual conditions of service, theprovision of the reinforcing means 41 is particularly advantageous inorderto avoid undue stretching of the parts 24 and to generally increasethe strength of the same. The arrangement of thecables or wires 41virtually provides a number of V-shaped reinforcing elements between theinner and outer edges of-eakch incasing member and to connectthe layersof material forming each member aforesaid, it is contemplated to employl/-shaped lines Loeaeee normally supported by the inflatedcushions Y 3,there being connectors between the tread and rim in the form of theincasing members Q4' which practically house or incase the cushions 3 attheir outer sides. tion of the cushions 3 is such, of course, that theauxiliary or central cushion does not come into play or perform itscushioning function to any material extent until deflation of one orboth of the cushions 3. ln the use of the invention, there is nolikelihood of failure of the auxiliary cushion to perform its functionbecause it is not in a position in which it could beinjured or damagedand therefore there is always provided a means to support the tread ofthe tire in spaced relation to the rim, notwith standing injury causing'deflation of the main cushion 3. Suitable air valves 43, are providedto facilitate inflation of the cushA ions 3 in the customary manner.

lt is understood that certain parts of the invention as above set forthare susceptible .of modification within the range of ordinary mechanical skill and alterations in the form and specific coperation of theparts as set forth may, be made as contemplated by the scope of theclaims hereto appended.

If desired, fastenings 45 may be used to secure the flanges 24 of theincasing members 24 to the rim 2, said fastenings being in the form ofbolts, the nuts of which are displaceable by the use of a socket wrenchor similar tool.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A tire comprising spaced inatable cushions, an auxiliary cushionextending between the inflatable cushions, a tread mounted on saidcushions, and incasing members detachably connected with the tread andinclosing the cushion member and adapted to detachably engage a rim.

2. A tire comprising inflatable cushions, an inflatable cushioninterposed therebetween and normally deflated, a tread lying outsideofsand engaging said cushions, laterally disposed casings extendinginwardly from the tread and detachably engaging the tread, said casingsextending at the sides of the inflatable cushions in position fordetachably engaging a rim, the inflatable cushions being accessible ybydetachment of said casings either from the rim or from the tread.

3. In combination, a rim, and a tire comprising a tread, annularinflatable cushions mounted on the rim and normally capable of holdingthe tread in spaced operative posi- The infial tion in relation to saidrim, and an annular resilient supporting member mounted on the rim andcapable of sustaining the tread opeiatively spaced from said rim in theevent 0I deflation of the inatable cushion, said v supporting memberbeing composed of segments flexibly connected together, and said treadbeing composed of exibly connected segments.

et. In combination, a rim, and a tire comprising a tread, annularinflat-able cushions mounted on the rim and normally capable of holdingthe tread in spaced operative position in relation to said rim, and anannular resilient supporting member mounted on the i'im and capable ofsustaining the tread operatively spaced from said rim in the event ofdeiiation of the inflatable cushion, said supporting member beingcomposed of segments iiexibly connected together and said tread beingcomposed of exibly connected segments, and means for detachablyconnecting the segments of the tread in position on the cushion andsupporting member.

5. In combination, a rim, a tire thereon comprising spaced cushionymembers, an auxiliary /cushion member intermediate the irst namedcushion members, a tread associated with said cushion members, and

means mounted on the-cushioning members detachably retaining the treadon said members whereby the tread may be removed to aford access to the6. In combination, a rim, a tire thereon comprising spaced cushionmembers, an

auxiliary cushion member intermediate the first named cushion members, atread associated With said cushion members, located to require removalof the tread to afford access to the outermost portion of the auxiliarycushion, and means detachably retaining the first named cushions inposition auxiliary cushion memlocated to require displacement of one ofsuch first-named cushions inorder to afford access to the auxiliarycushion member from a side of the tire.

7. A lresilient tire comprising a cushion composed of segments orsections, means flexiblyaconnecting said sections together, a,I

tread mounted upon said cushion and composed. of segments .correspondingWith those of the cushion, and other cushions disposed at opposite sidesof the above mentioned cushion. and housing the latter.

8. In combination, a rim, a tire thereon comprising spaced inflatablecushions, an intermediate auxiliary cushion, a tread mounted on saidcushions and spaced thereby from the rim, said tread being composed ofsegments separately detachable, and

means normally housing the lintermediate cushion and detachable forremoval of a tread segment.

y9. A tire comprising a pneumatic cushion, heusings at opposite sidesthereof, cushioning means outside said housings, and cas-- HARRYMCCLEARY.

Witnesses i VELMA PEIRsoN, I-I. C. ROBE.

